The UK recorded music industry has confirmed that it is investigating allegations of an extensive illegal music filesharing network at engineering company Honeywell. Strathclyde Police, together with UK record labels' trade association the BPI, executed a warrant on the company's Motherwell premises at 8.40am yesterday morning.

The operation follows a two-month investigation into alleged music filesharing at Honeywell, which began after an employee of the company provided the BPI with evidence of thousands of music files being shared illegally on the company's servers. A number of employees are assisting the police with their enquiries and a report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.

"Any businesses that are complacent in this area should take note: failure to put in place a stringent, enforceable policy to prevent staff copying and distributing music on company systems could expose the company, and the employees concerned, to the risk of civil proceedings or a criminal investigation.

"Uploading music files to a company computer network for other employees to download is a serious offence. Filesharing music without permission, whether you are on the internet at home or in the office, is illegal and can carry stiff penalties."